We prefer to tackle complexion concerns from the outside in—serums, scrubs, creams. Yet perhaps the secret really lies deeper, in your gut. In the last couple of years, scientific studies have been revealing a dramatic and fascinating relationship known as the gut-skin connection. According to the hypothesis, it looks like the occurrences in your stomach may even have an effect on how the skin looks and feels.
Why the Gut and Skin Are More Connected Than You Think
Your gut contains trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes all referred to as the gut microbiome. This inner ecosystem is crucial to your digestion, immune function, mood, and now—according to scientists—your skin. If your gut microbiome is balanced (referred to as eubiosis), your body’s inflammation is suppressed. But when inflammation arises due to an unbalanced microbiome (dysbiosis), your skin suffers.
Scientists have discovered that dysbiosis in the gut has been implicated as being associated with widespread skin diseases like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and even rosacea. Inflammatory messages from the gut can pass into the bloodstream and cause an outburst on the skin. In addition, a damaged gut lining can enable toxins “leak” into the bloodstream—a disorder called “leaky gut syndrome“—which can cause autoimmune-like responses in the skin.
The Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics
If your gut microbiome are the headliners, ensuring that they’re getting fed is priority. Probiotics (the good guys) and prebiotics (the foods that fuel them, such as fiber) are strong contenders for creating a healthier gut—and, subsequently, healthier skin.
These kinds of foods like yogurt with live cultures, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and tempeh are probiotic foods by nature. Others like garlic, onions, oats, and bananas are prebiotic foods. To have them both on your plate provides a good base of gut health and is friendly to clearer, calmer skin in the long term.
How Stress and Diet Make It Worse
Stress isn’t all in your head—your stomach hurts too. When you’re stressed out with worry or overstressed, you secrete more cortisol, which disrupts your microbiome and disables digestion. Unhealthy eating habits, like sugar-heavy diets, fast foods, and alcohol, are also culprits behind inflammation and disrupting the balance in the gut.
That’s why acne tends to crop up after stressful periods or unhealthy eating habits. It’s not bad luck—it’s your gut-skin axis doing its thing.
Healing from the Inside Out
If you have found partial success in using products on your skin, it’s time to nourish your skin from the inside out. Begin by adding whole foods, drink plenty of water, stress-proof with mindfulness practices, and getting a good night’s sleep. You can also discuss using a high-grade probiotic with a medical doctor.
Skin health isn’t just skin deep. By nurturing your gut microbiome, you’re not only helping your digestion and immunity but also improving the way your skin glows and heals. The gut-skin connection reminds us that true beauty often starts from the inside out.